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Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Polypharmacy Among Brazilian Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Bielemann, Renata M 
Silveira, Marysabel PT 
Lutz, Bárbara H 
Miranda, Vanessa IA 
Gonzalez, Maria Cristina 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous observations regarding association between physical activity (PA) and use of medicines among older adults are derived from self-reported PA. This study aimed to evaluate the association between objectively measured PA and polypharmacy among older adults with multimorbidity in Southern Brazil. METHODS: This study included 875 noninstitutionalized older people, aged ≥60 years. Prescribed medicines used in the 15 days prior to the interview, socioeconomic data, and the presence of comorbidities were self-reported. Accelerometers were used to evaluate PA following the interview. RESULTS: Prevalence of polypharmacy (≥5 medicines) was 38.3% (95% confidence interval, 35.0-41.5); those belonging to the lowest tertile of PA used more medicines. The authors observed a significant inverse association for polypharmacy between men belonging to the second and third tertiles of PA for objectively measured overall PA and light PA compared with the most inactive tertile. For women, the association between PA and polypharmacy was significant for overall, light, and moderate to vigorous PA only in the third tertile. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, light and moderate to vigorous PA were inversely associated to polypharmacy and differed by gender. Promotion of PA in older adults may be an effective intervention to reduce the number of medicines used independent of the number of comorbidities.

Description

Keywords

accelerometry, aging, epidemiology, gerontology, Accelerometry, Aged, Brazil, Exercise, Female, Humans, Independent Living, Male, Polypharmacy

Journal Title

J Phys Act Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1543-3080
1543-5474

Volume Title

17

Publisher

Human Kinetics

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/3)
MRC (MC_UU_00006/4)